What should not be forgotten in the Giants’ kicking derby is that whoever gets the job will have to work with rookie snapper Jay Alford, who was drafted out of Penn State as a defensive tackle prospect and as such cannot devote his full attention to special teams.

Alford was forced into snapping for field goals after Ryan Kuehl – who did not have a single bad snap in his three years with the Giants – went down in training camp with a high ankle sprain that could keep him out the entire season. Kuehl’s lone role was snapping.

Consider this a warning, courtesy of a 41-year old veteran who has seen it all.

“In all reality if you look at most teams around the league there are three specialist positions,” punter Jeff Feagles said, “and it includes one of the snappers.”

There were problems with the snaps and holds in Saturday’s 20-12 preseason loss to the Jets: Lawrence Tynes missed two of three field goals tries and Josh Huston missed his lone attempt.

Tynes, after missing from 40 and 43 yards and hitting from 40, offered no excuses but pointed out that the snaps by Alford and holds by rookie punter Cory Ohnesorge – filling in because Feagles was out with back spasms – were not good enough. There was none of that yesterday.